Back in the day, people got laid off and then hired back. It was a worker shuffle. A new person would join while another left, but the top brass always stayed because the product wasn't going anywhere.
Today, In AI era, entire roles are being eliminated, not just individuals. The jobs are gone for good. So, if your VP is gone, the product is likely next. You'll be reassigned, and if you can't fit into a new project, you're out.
The old rules are changing. In this new market, ops teams are leaner, and real-time coding is the norm. Everyone is expected to be hands-on, so there's no room for backseat politics. New roles are constantly being created, so your ability to adapt and fit into the changing market is everything.
Don't stay in useless legacy projects. RUN. If not
Expect more layoffs ...